Ellen LeBow’s Swim for Life design inspired by her Haitian experience
/
The creative human spirit pervades all that artist Ellen LeBow touches. There are no boundaries between her studio work and the communities she has nurtured around her, from her Wellfleet family to her long-term project in Haiti. Since 2013, she and her partner Seth Rolbein became legal guardians of two 15-year old Haitian girlsIn the late 1990s, in a village on the island of Ile de la Gonave, Haiti, she and Christine Low saw the women battling to feed their families as the men had less means to make a living in traditional farming. Thus was born Art Matenwa, harnessing women’s latent creativity to provide more economic stability for their families.From the beginning, they were challenged by the fragile ecological balance of the area with its limited wood and water.“Learning to hand-paint brilliant imagery on silk scarves offered an elegant solution,” Ellen explains. “Low-tech, unbreakable, an ideal vehicle for self-expression. And scarves are a traditional accessory for Haitian women,” she adds.
Inspired by her work in Haiti, Ellen designed this year’s Swim for Life t-shirt with an inspired Tree of Life image set in a boat. The original pencil drawing was color designed by Andrea Pluhar. The100% organic cotton shirts are available at Seamen’s Bank, downtown Provincetown.For twenty years, Art Matenwa has thrived under the sponsorship of the Provincetown Community Compact’s unique Think-ubator program, which nurtures short and long term initiatives of residents of the Lower Cape, providing administrative and strategic support and tax-exempt fiscal sponsorship. The Compact is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.Ellen will share her experiences with Art Matenwa at a special community reception at The Residences at Seashore Point on Friday, August 24 from 6:00-7:30pm. The event is free and open to the public and includes refreshments, entertainment and door prizes. Ellen also opens an exhibition of her work at Rice Polak Gallery in Provincetown on Friday, August 17 at 7:00pm.Business sponsors of the 2018 Swim for Life include: the Provincetown Banner (media sponsor), Seamen’s
Bank (lead sponsor), and the Lobster Pot Restaurant, Far Land Provisions, Boatslip Resort & Beach Club, Fanizzi’s Restaurant, Harbor Hotel, Berta Walker Gallery, Cape Air, Bay State Cruise, Art’s Dune Tours, WOMR 92.1 FM, ProTools and Seashore Point.The 31st Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, which has raised $5M for AIDS, women’s health and the community since 1988, will take place September 8, 2018. For swimmer, kayaker, boater and volunteer information, go to thecompact.org
